Members of the Mental Health Mission team have found that children with persistently short night-time sleep duration are at a significantly higher risk of developing psychotic experiences and psychotic disorders by the age of 24.
The study, led by Dr Isabel Morales-Munoz, Deputy Theme Lead for Mood Disorders, co-written with Professor Steven Marwaha, Mood Disorders Theme Lead, Professor Rachel Upthegrove, Psychosis Theme Lead, and Dr Vanessa Cropley of the University of Melbourne analysed data from over 12,000 children as part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
The findings revealed that children with shorter sleep patterns across their early years were more than twice as likely to develop Psychotic Disorders and nearly four times as likely to experience Psychotic Experiences in young adulthood. The study also identified that elevated levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin 6 (IL-6) at age 9 partially mediated the link between short sleep duration and psychosis. However, another marker, C-reactive protein (CRP), did not show a similar effect.
This research highlights the critical need to address sleep issues in childhood, as poor sleep may contribute to long-term mental health risks. The study also suggests that future interventions should target both sleep and inflammatory responses to reduce the likelihood of developing psychosis later in life.
